Shoe-heel device



Patented Mair. 3, 1931 g UNITED STATES RALPH CAIAZZO, or `BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AssIeNOR, BY DIRECT AND ivIEsNE AssIeNMENTs, To AMERICAN NEW` FASHION SILVERWARE CORPORATION, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION or NEW YOEK yPfrlszN'r OFFICE SHOE-HEEL DEVICE 'Application led September 6, 1929. Serial N'o. 390,762.

' This invention relates to improvements in ladies shoe heels and its leading object is to provide a composite shoe heel lift which can be attached to the standard Wooden heel of a ladys shoe, and which will be attractive 1n appearance, wear resistance in use, and attached irmly by small nails to the wooden base or heel, so that it will resist accidental detachment for along period.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a shoe heel lift for a ladys shoe, which, having a base formed of metal and providing a socket for the lower end off a wooden shoe heel, includes also penetration resisting portions through which nails are driven, and a lift retaining marginal portion for holding a leather lift in place, so that this marginal portion forms a non-slipping means and also provides an external metal surface Yto present an attractive decorative appearance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter specliically pointed Y out, or will become apparent, as the specifiheel, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view thereon, on

v an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view, also on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating the practical embodiment of the invention, 5 designates a heel of a ladys shoe, which is constructed according to current practice, and which has a lift carrying lower face 5', against which the improved composite heel lift 6 is mounted.

This composite heel lift includes the metal shell or endless band Ga and the leather or yieldable insert 6b.

' The shell is formed by casting, die casting or otherwise, by die pressure shaping, or by any method convenient or best adapted to produce the required special construction, which includes a heel socket, to receive. the lower end of the wooden shoe heel. This socket is made up of the curved wall 6d, which hasa form corresponding to thatof the base of the wooden heel and is designed to snugly fit the same. This wall is relatively low, so that the socket will be shallow. Hthin this encircling and heel reinforcing wall is an integral web 6e, which is approximately crescent shaped, but provided with a central inwardly offsetportion 6e.

Y T his web receives the thrust of the shoe heel and also provides means for anchoring the lift to the wooden shoe heel, as it is formed with a series of small nail Openings 6;", spaced apart in the web and in its olset portion.

Against the underside of the web 6e the leather shoe lift insert GZ) is placed. This l-iftfcompletely covers the web and is retained against Vthe web by means of the integral skirtfor flange GIL, which is sho-wn to be slightly flared outwardly, and which is also formed with inturned retaining teeth 6i, which are crimped against the edges of the leather lift insert, so as to retain the same under compression against the web 6e.

The retaining nails 7 are forced through bores 7a formed in the leather lift insert thence through the openings in the web and into the wooden shoe heel until the heads of thexna'ils `engage the underside of the web 6e, so that the nails securely fasten the composite lift to the shoe heel as clearly shown in TFigure 5 of the drawings.

The infolded teeth 6a' extend in a curving line which is cio-extensive with the outer edge of the leather litt insert, and provide `non-slipping means for enabling the user to safely walk upon dangerous pavements.

The flare of the retaining flange, which forms a skirt for the leather lift insert, also allows the ange'to burr slightly under the thrusts developed in walking, and this action will serve to maintain the leather lift in its Ypocket within the iange, after the crimped and infolded teeth have been'worn away.

The socket on the upper side of the composite heel lift prevents t-he wooden shoe heel from slipping or chipping, and also protects its fabric or leather covering from peel- 'be obvious that grooves may be provided as Well as ornamental design Work such as indicated at 6ft.

' rllhe infolded teeth 6i which form the lower marginal edge of the slightly flaring skirt or'flange 671 also add to the attractive appearance of the composite lift, so that the visible external face of the metal backing is such as to really trim the general appearance of the wooden heel, in addition to reinforcing it. v

The lower part ofthe wooden shoe heel maybe reduced so that the external face of the composite lift will be iush with the eX- ternal face of the wooden shoe heel. The metal backing may be made from any metal l or. alloy of metals, but'a light color brass,

plated with a protecting` coat of othermetal, hasbeen found to give good service,.and to heighten the general appearance of the shoe equipped withthe improved composite lift.

" rihe area of the web is less than the area Yof the space which contains the leather lift insert, so that a small cushioningspace 1s left between the insert and the wooden heel. The hereinbefore described construction admits of considerable modifications without departing from the invention; therefore, l do not wish to be limited to the precise arrangements shown and described, which are, as aforesaid, by way of illustration merely. ln other words, the scope of protection con-l templated is to be taken solely .from the appended claims, interpreted as broadly as is consistent with the prior art. v

Iclaim as new l. A composite shoe heel lift comprising'a shell, a web disposed in said shell to provide a shoe heel receiving socket, an outwardly flared skirt included in said shell and dis-` posed below the web, a yieldable insert disposed in the skirt, and teeth formed with the lower edge of said skirt and being engageable with the bottom of the insert to secure the latter within the skirt, and said web beingV substantially crescent shape in formation so as to form a pocket between the shoe heel and insert. v

y2. A composite shoe heel lift, comprising a shell, a web arranged in said shell to pro-Y vide a shoe heel receiving socket including a wall following the shape of the heel, a skirt depending from the wall and being outwardly flared, an insert disposedvin said Skirt and following the shape thereof, and teeth formed with the lower edge of said skirt and being `bent for contacting engagement with the bottom of said insert for se curing the latter within the skirtl and against the-web,` said web having openings therein and being of a. shape to provide a pocket between the insert and shoe heel, and said insert havingbores therein aligned with the openings and lsaid openings and bores adapted to receive headedsecuring lmeans wioh theheads thereof seated againstthe we Vintestimony whereof I hereby ax ymy signature. Y. f RALPH CAIAZZO. 

